Carbid-feeding mechanism for acetylene-generators.



I. HARRIS. 'CARBID FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-22,19l5.

Patented July 24, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- jzmzrys J. HARRIS.

CARBID FEEDING MECHANISM FOR ACETYLENE GENERATORS.

- APPLICATION FILED MAR.22. 1915.

Patented July 24, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JOHN HARRIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

GARBID-FEEDING MECHAN ISM FOB. ACETYLENE-G-ENERATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

"Patented July 2%,1912.

Original application filed October 12, 1914, Serial No. 866,194. Divided and this application filed March 22, 1915. Serial No. 16,150. 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN HARRIS, a citi-. zen of the United States, residing at Cleve- .land, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new an useful Improvement in Carbid Feeding Mechanism for Acetylene-Generators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to acetylene-gas generators of the type shown in my copending application, Serial No. 866,194, filed October 12th, 1914, and of which this application is a division; the generators being employed for producing acetylene-gas of high pressure, such as is used with blowpipes for so-called a'utogenous welding. My present invention relates particularly to carbid feeding mechanism for use with apparatus of the above character; and it has for its object the provision of mechanism that is-comparatively simple of construction and positive of action, for automatically feeding or transmitting the carbid from the carbid hopper to the, generating chamber of the apparatus.

Generally speaking my invention may be defined as consisting of the combinations of elements set forth in the annexed claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatusembodying my invention Fig. 2 is a central vertical 35 sectional view through the neck of the generator and a portion of the carbid hopper, and includes the carbid feeding mechanism, said view being taken on a plane parallel to the front elevation; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line -3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, but taken on a plane at right angles to said figure, and shows the parts on a somewhat smaller scale; Fig. 5 is a central section through the diaphragm and its casing, by

means of which the carbid feeding mechanism is automatically controlled; and- Fig. 6 is a detail, in perspective, of certain parts of the weight motor whereby the carbid feed- 50 ing mechanism is operated.

Taking up a detailed description of the invention by the use of reference characters, 1 represents the generating chamber of the apparatus, above which is supported, upon 55 a neck 2, and a carbid hopper 3.

The filling opening of the hopper 1s adapted to be closed by a cover 4 that is clamped to the openingby a screw 5, which is threaded through a yoke 6, the ends whereof are pivoted to the hopper on opposite sides of the filling opening. This is in accordance with the usual method of closing receptacles of this kind, and forms no part of my invention.

lVater may be supplied to the generating chamber 1 through the open-top receptacle 7, that is communicatively connected to the chamber, through the pipe 8. A valve *9 is included in the pipe 8, and has an operating handle 10 which, it may be stated, is connected by a rod 11 with the gate of the sludge valve 12, in such a way that said sludge valve cannot be opened without firstopening the valve 9. This feature constitutes no part of my present invention, but, together with certain other safety appliances, is made the subject of my. co-pending application Serial Number 866,194, filed Oct. 12, 1914. The filling receptacle 7 answers also as a water level indicator to show when the generating chamber is full. An overflow pipe 13 has connection with the side of the receptacle 7 at an elevation which corresponds to the high-water level of the generating chamber. By opening the valve 9, and placing the end of .a hose in the open top of the filling receptacle, water may be supplied to the apparatus until it is seen to rise within the receptacle to the height of the overflow pipe 13.

Shown generally at 20, in Fig. 1, is a weight motor that is supported upon a bracket 21 which extends from one side of the hopper 3. This weight motor may be of any approved type, and derives its power from the weight 22 which is suspended from the end of a cable 23 that passes over a sheave 24, journaled in the outer end of the bracket 21, and which cable is finally attached to the drum 25. Through suitable gearing, this drum, as it is rotated through the influence of the weight 22, drives the beveled pinion 26 that meshes with a similar pinion 27 fastened to the upper end of shaft 28, which shaft may be provided with the universal joints 29, eluded for the obvious reason of allowing a slight difference in the alinement in the ends of the shaft 28. I

A crank case 30 extends from one side of the neck 2 of the apparatus, and in a vertical extension 31which rises from the upper sursaid joints being 1n otedone end of a 37 that is retained within a cent ends of which are held 'the space between said ends. 47 is pivoted, at 48, to the scraper and- .acts to keep the mass of carbid from beface thereof, is jo'urnaled the lower end of the aforesaid shaft 28, a suitable packing gland 32 being employed to form a gast-ight joint where said shaft enters the extension. l/Vithin the crank casing, the shaft is provided with a crank 33, to which is pivconnecting rod or link 34, the opposite end of which is pivoted, at 35, to a rod 36, which passes directly through the neck of the generator and has its opposite end slidably supported within a bushing gas-tight tubular extension 38, that projects from the side of the neck. From the preceding description it will be seen that, as the shaft 28 is rotated by the Weight motor, the rod 36 will be reciprocated.

Fastened to the rod,,36 at about the center of the neck, is a scraper 40 which slides upon a circular shelf 41', supported from the sides of the neck by angle brackets 42. (See Fig. 4.) Two diametrically opposite side extensions of the shelf 41 are shown as turned upward to provide brackets 43 within the upper ends of which are journaled the ends of the arms 44 of the semicircular shells 45, the lower edges of which rest upon the periphery of the shelf 41. Each of the shells is divided into two parts, the adja- U-shaped members 46, said adjacent ends of the two parts being separated sufliciently to allow the rod 36 to play freely within 'An agitator coming too closely packed within the con- The lower haf ng understood tracted lower tator being capable of a slight oscillation about its pivot, the maximum limits of this oscillation being defined by the sides of the mouth-of the hopper.

Included within the mechanism of the weight motor, is a brake drum 50, with which is adapted to cotiperate either end 51 or 52 of an angle lever 53, suitable friction shoes being employed between the respective ends of the lever and the drum. The lever 53 is fastened to a rock shaft 54 which projects through the side of the cas ing and has attached to its end, an arm 55. The free end 'of the arm 55 connects with the upper end of a rod 56, and the opposite end of this rod is pivoted to the forward end of an arm 57 which is pinned to a shaft 58 that is journaled within the upper half ,59 of a diaphragm casing thatis located above, and carried by the crank case '30.

60 of this diaphragm casing has communication with the interior of the apparatus through the nipple 6lit becase opens into the generating chamber and clamped between the adjacent edges of the two parts of the casing is a flexible together by the end of the hopper, said agi-- the brake of the that the interior of the crank 1 diaphragm 62 (see Fig. 5). A pin, having an enlargement 64, is clamped to the central portion of the diaphragm, by the nut 65, suitable plates being applied to each side of the diaphragm. Resting upon the upper end of the enlargement 64, is the bifurcated end of an arm 66 that is pinned to the shaft 58 where it projects within the diaphragm casing. A compression spring 67 tends to force the free end of the arm said spring having its opposite end bearing upon the end of a cap 68 that is threaded into the upper end of the casing member 5!). A finishing cap 69 incloses the spring cap 68.

The operation of the carbid feeding mechanism is as follows: It will be assumed that a quantity of carbid has fallen from the hopper and is resting upon the shelf 41, and that all partsof the apparatus are in 35 proper condition for the generation of gas.

The weight motor will operate to rotate the shaft 28, and through the crank 33 and the connecting link 34, to reciprocate the rod 36 and scraper 40. Upon the movement of the scraper in one direction, the body of carbid which is on the advancing side thereof will be shoved over against the adjacent shell 45 and swing the same away from the edge of the shelf, thereby allowing a part of the carbid to tumble over the edge of the shelf into the water contained .within the generating chamber below. As the scraper moves in the opposite direction, the carbid on the other side thereof will be acted upon in the same manner as that'which has just been precipitated into the water, and the former shell 45 will return to normal position. As gas is generated and accumulates in the apparatus, it will act upon the underneath side of the diaphragm 62 and elevate the same, thereby lifting the free end of the arm 7 -66 and rocking the shaft 58. Through the arm 57 that is attached to the outer end of said shaft, the rod 56 will be pushed upward to rock the arm 55, shaft 54 and the angle lever 53 in a direction to cause the end 52 thereof to be brought into contact with the brake drum 50. The operation of the weight motor will thus be suspended until sufficient gas has been withdrawn from the apparatus to lower the pressure therein enough to allow the aforesaid parts to assume normal position and free motor.

In case the diaphragm 62 becomes fractured, the gas which would thus be permitted to escape into the upper portion 59 of its casing, would be led off through a vent pipe 70, which joins said casing, as shown 125 in Fig. 5. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Carbid feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, a support for a quantity of 1 66 downward, 5-

reposing with its edge coincident with the carbid and having opposed edges from which the carbid maybe discharged, members for cooperation with said edges and movable independently of each other toward and away from the same, a device that is movable across the support to push the carbid toward the aforesaid members, and means for moving said device.

2. Carbid feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, a shelf for supporting a quantity of carbid and from the opposed edges of which the carbid is discharged, shells for cooperation with said edges of the shelf and movable independently of each other toward and away from the same, a scraper that is movable transversely of the shelf and in the direction of the shells, and means for moving said scraper.

3. Carbid feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, a support for a quantity of carbid and having an edge from which the carbid may be discharged, a shell normally aforesaid edge of the support, said shell having opposed vertical extensions, supporting means to which the upper ends of said extensions are pivoted so that the shell is swingable toward and from the aforesaid edge of the support, a device that is movable across the support to push the carbid toward the aforesaid shell, and means for moving said device.

4c. Carbid feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, a support for a quantity of carbid and having an edge from which the carbid may be discharged, a shell normally reposing with its edge coincident with the aforesaid edge of the support and having a vertical extension that is rigid with its body portion, supporting means to which the upper end of the extension is pivoted, whereby the shell is swingable upward and away from the aforesaid edge of the carbid support, a device that is movable'across the support to push the carbid toward the shell, a push rod having connection with said device and extending across the discharge edge of the support, the aforesaid shell-having a slotted extension that embraces the rod, whereby the shell is prevented from moving transversely of the rod,

guides through which the rod is movable in I a (fixed path, and means for moving said r0 5. Carbid feeding mechanism comprising, in combination, a shelf for supporting a quantity of carbid and from the opposed edges of'which the'carbid is discharged, a shell having an edge coincident with the aforesaid opposed edges of the shelf, each shell having opposed vertical extensions which terminate some distance above the transverse center of the shelf, supports wherein the upper ends of said extensions are pivoted, a device that is movable across the shelf to push the carbid toward said shells, a rod to which said device is attached, said rod extending across the shelf transverse its aforesaid opposed edges, guides through which said rod is movable in a fixed path, each shell having a slotted extension for guidance uponthe rod, and means for retatingmember connected to said device and I projecting upward into the discharge end of the hopper.

7. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of a carbid hopper having a downwardly convergent discharge end, a. shelf supported the hopper, a device movable across said below the discharge end of shelf for pushing the carbid therefrom,"

means for moving said device, and an agitating member pivotally connected to said device and projecting upward into the discharge end of the hopper.

In testimony whereof,I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HARRIS.

Witnesses:

BRENNAN B. WEST, HUGH B. MCGILL. 

